DE J.J. Watt has bigger goals for Texans, himself than making playoffs

DE J.J. Watt has bigger goals for Texans, himself than making playoffs

For the Houston Texans to rebound from a 0-3 start and cap it off with an 11-5 finish, an AFC South title, and a home playoff game, it seems to be a great accomplishment. However, defensive end J.J. Watt has bigger plans in mind for, not only the team, but for himself as the Texans enter the postseason.

“We have loftier goals; I have loftier goals, especially after starting 0-3, everybody writes you off,” Watt said after Houston’s 20-3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium Sunday. “Guys in the locker room believed, guys in the locker room never gave up. We have a lot of resiliency, a lot of perseverance, a lot of talent.”

The Texans became the first team since the 1992 San Diego Chargers to start 0-3 and follow up the bleak start with a division title. The ’92 Chargers beat a divisional foe in the Kansas City Chiefs in the wildcard round at home, but stalled out on the road in the divisional playoffs at Miami.

Houston has never made it beyond the divisional round of the playoffs, having to play as the visiting team in every one of their three such appearances. Two of them were in New England, where the Texans will end up if they beat the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC South rubber match in the wildcard round.

If the Texans are to make their first AFC Championship Game or advance further, Watt knows they have the building blocks to make such an advance playoff run.

Said Watt: “Guys that play for each other, love playing the game, love playing for each other, can make plays. [Sunday] is a big day. Like I said, we have bigger goals.”

The Texans host the Colts Jan. 5 at NRG Stadium. It is the first time since the formation of the AFC South in 2002 that an AFC South match-up will occur in the playoffs.

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